Aircon, essential or not ?

[J4CKO]

How many of us are actually all that bothered about aircon, when I was a kid in the seventies/eighties, we didnt even know what it was, had heard of it but had no concept of what it did, first time I experienced is was in the US, I got in a collagues Honda Civic and opened a window, he said to shut it and I thought he was mad as it was 90 degrees out, he said it was ok as he had the "air" on, sure enough a lovely, magical cool breeze came through, I thought it was witchraft !

Anyway, it sort of appeared in the nineties on more mainstream cars, I had a 1990 Audi 100 that had it in about 95 but these days, I am not all that fussed, suppose I dont do many miles but we managed back in the day quite happily, the main concern for me aged 8 was not leaving leg on the vinyl seats in my dads Capri or leaving vinyl on the legs, like sitting on the hob !

So, essential or not all that fussed ?

[Paraicj]

Maybe not essential in the UK, but having traveled in some southern US states, it's definitely a nice thing to have when the weather is constantly hot.

[Ki3r]

Now I've got a car with aircon that works, I wouldn't go back to one without it. I have it on pretty much all the time. Only time I don't is early mornings for some reason.

[JREwing]

I live without it and it never causes me a big problem. There are times that I'd like it though.

[Marf]

Essential. Great in the summer for keeping cool and great in the winter for clearing condensation.

Edited by Marf on Thursday 18th October 12:46

[C.A.R.]

Much like snow tyres, not essential in this country.

Nice to have, though.

[DaveH23]

Only ever had one car with it and never once used it.

If im hot I open the window... if its still hot I open another window.

[MGgeordie]

Not essential.

My ZT has it & I have never used it & never will. I never drive with the window fully up unless it lashing it down. I'm a fresh air freak!! I hate the feeling of being hemmed in with all of the windows fully closed.

Oh, and when its cracking the flags I'm out in the MX-5

[Pablo16v]

While not entirely essential in this country windows do seem to demist better using aircon...helpful in our mixed climate......and all the dark coloured cars I've owned always got bloody hot inside even on days when it's not particularly warm outside.

[Riley Blue]

On a long journey, on a hot day, I prefer it but that doesn't often happen in the UK.

[Vocal Minority]

It is useful in the MR2 Roadster purely for demisting it when it is wet. If it is warm enough to need air-con the roof should be down - so its not on.

[anonymous-user]

I only use it on the rare occasion that it is warm and raining. Nothing beats the feel of wind on your face.

[J4CKO]

Paraicj said:

Maybe not essential in the UK, but having traveled in some southern US states, it's definitely a nice thing to have when the weather is constantly hot.

Yep, done quite a bit of driving in the US this year, Death Valley without it would be deeply unplesant, even with it the car wasnt super cool even with it on full blast. Over here, less bothered but it is good for demisting and avoiding a domestic.

[Chrisw666]

It's nice to have it but I wouldn't choose a car based on its extras.

[redweapon]

No, when my Air packed up, I didn't waste any money fixing it and given the sh*t summers we get I can't see I ever will.

And on the odd day its hot you take the rag top anyway..

[Mr Pockets]

Its essential... for about 2 days a year.

My first two cars didn't have it and it never bothered me, really. After that, the next two did and it only saw the occasional use. Then, most recently, I moved all my stuff abroad in the cheapest LHD car I could find, a Citroen Saxo diesel, which obviously doesn't have it. Who cares, I'm going to Sweden, its cold there.

Then I proceeded to drive 1500 miles across Europe in a heat-wave. Over 30C for days. It was foul & after a couple of days the car absolutely stank - I was using something like 3 T-Shirts a day and they were all drenched within an hour.
I've also been in a small airconditioned hatchback in over 40C in Turkey and that was a far more pleasant temperature than the Citroen inside.

Its one of those things that you only really appreciate when you need it but don't have it really - I'd not let it get in the way of buying something I'd always wanted, but I'd certainly make sure I got one with it, if it was on the options list.

[Iang84]

Got it on mine but dont like driving with the windows up so got myself some wind deflectors and can now drive all year round with the windows open if I want providing its not brass monkeys outside then the heating gets put on

[roadman]

my preference Not essential, iv had it on my previous two cars and never used it, would rather have the windows down

[mrmr96]

Depends how you define "Essential".

You won't die without it in the UK, but it sure is nice to have. I like it so much that these days I wouldn't buy a car without it, so long as I had a choice.

[anonymous-user]

I wouldn't buy a car without it. A/C as a minimum, preferably climate control.